I do not look like my cocker spaniels.
Posted on 02/10/2006 10:18:31 AM PST by girlangler
News Release March 29, 2004
Study Reveals That Dogs Resemble Their Owners As a Result of Selection
Do people really resemble their pets? A resemblance in a movie or on TV between a pet and its owner has occasionally tickled our funny bone. The results of a recent study suggest that a resemblance between owner and dog may be actually determined by the pet lover's selection.
The research, by Michael M. Roy and Nicholas Christenfeld, both of the University of California, San Diego, found that when people pick a pet, they seek one that, at some level, resembles them. These findings will be published in the May issue of Psychological Science, a publication of the American Psychological Society.
The study investigated two possible scenarios that could produce similarity between people and their dogs. One would involve some convergence in features over time, meaning the similarity had grown with the length of ownership. The other would involve people selecting dogs that are like them. (This second situation suggests greater similarity between people and their purebred dogs than between people and their mutts, because a mutt puppy's final appearance is unpredictable, and its selection might also involve less foresight and deliberation.)
Forty-five dogs (25 purebreds and 20 mutts) and their owners were separately photographed. Owners were photographed from the waist up, wearing whatever clothes they had chosen that day and whatever facial expression they chose for the picture. Dogs were photographed facing forward, with the whole dog visible. (The dogs also made whatever facial expression they chose, though often with more emphasis on a steadily lolling tongue.) Judges were shown a picture of one owner and a picture of that owner's dog and one other dog, with the task of picking out the true match.
The judges were able to most often able to properly match the owner and dog. The judges found no resemblance between mutts and their owners, providing evidence that owners tend to choose a dog that looks like them, rather than owners and dogs grow alike over time.
For more information, contact Christenfeld at nchristenfeld@ucsd.edu, or for a complete copy of this article, visit the APS Media Center at www.psychologicalscience.org/media.
Psychological Science is ranked among the top 10 general psychology journals for impact by the Institute for Scientific Information. The American Psychological Society represents advocating science-based research in the public's interest.
I do not look like my cocker spaniels.
One small problem....
I didn't pick my pets, they picked ME!
:-p
Pugs are wonderful dogs, a friend has three and everyone loves them.
Oh dear...I got Porteguese Water Dog...which to me sounds like an even higher maintenance critter than a poodle.
I don't *think* that's me...
WOOF!!!
Check out #37 link
Pretty accurate!
Since I'm kinda chunky and wrinkly as a human, it makes sense that, as a dog, I'd be a Shar-pei:
Okay guys, I'm pinging you on this -- but let me EMPHASIZE I DON'T look like a PUG. May have some of their loveable traits and all, though.
From that view, the one on the right.
:-P
That litle one-eyed dog.
Eeegads! Laughing so hard I'm crying!
Best Photoshop of the Day award to you!
The one on my right, your left. HEHE
OOOOOOOHHHH OOOOOHHHHHHH!
PICK MEEE!!!!!
I KNOW!!!!
Tango, I hope. ;-P
Believe, me, Eaker, you do NOT wanna know.
ROFLOL!
Pug-Pitbull sounds difficult. Is this a first? Puppy looks GOOD! Will you kindly ping me if you take progress pics? I'm interested on how it's going to look - it's adorable now.
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